Mila Espina: Teacher cum entrepreneur

CEBU, Philippines — She is most known for her stunning versatility. A star-maker. A coach of few good successful men and women. An educator extraordinaire—just to name a few.

But, perhaps most may have often overlooked that Dr. Milagros “Mila” Castillo-Espina is also a trailblazer in the field of entrepreneurship.

Long before the idea of English as Second Language (ESL) came into life, Mila has already been doing the business when she founded the Speechcom International in 1976. She taught English to both locals and foreigners, not just learning how to speak the universal language, but also to master the art of public speaking.

Her business spans from teaching little kids to carry confidence on stage and off-stage, to mentoring businessmen and politicians in Cebu how to win their respective audiences.

She has been instrumental in helping conceptualized a lot of business and social projects that affect the development of Cebu—in business, tourism, academe and politics.

The Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) recognized her active involvement with the organization through an Achievement Award in Tourism. She is also a recipient of the American Chamber of Commerce Service Award.

She co-founded the CCCI Grand Chamber Awards in 2006, together with then Chamber president Anastacio “Jun” Muntuerto Jr.

Passionate educator

Raised, schooled, and graduated from the country’s capital—Manila, Mila found herself in Cebu by following the beat of her heart. She married Cebuano businessman Rolando “Sonny” Ruiz Espina. Both decided to settle in Cebu in the 1960s.

Armed with her impressive educational background and extensive experience, which included her teaching stint in her alma mater University of Sto. Tomas (UST) plus her inviting aura of confidence and self-assurance, Mila easily gained respect from decision makers of Cebu’s academe.

She was invited by several educational entities in Cebu including Colegio de la Inmaculada Concepcion, but ended up in the hands of the Augustinians and has been with the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) for 36 years.

Mila’s unique teaching prowess is unique and extraordinary. No wonder, she is dubbed as a star-maker, the mentor behind the successful icons in Cebu.

Her passion to teach goes beyond lectures. She sprinkled it with wit and humor. “I love teaching and integrate it with music to nourish and complete the students’ quench for education.”

For years, Mila reigned in USJR’s arts and sciences department as a Dean, vertically aligned with Graduate School of Arts and Education. She founded and directed the USJR Little Theater, Dramatics and Cultural Ensemble. Presently, she is the consultant for cultural and community affairs of the University.

A graduate of BSE major in English, minor in History at UST, Mila finished her doctorate degree in education major in English and minor in anthropology at the University of San Carlos (USC).

Truly, a communication sage, the “teacher with a song in her heart”, never stops learning too. She takes learning as her norm—just like indulging herself to a sumptuous meal. Learning is always a delicious buffet for her.

She acquired several cross cultural courses around the world, including East West Center, University of Hawaii, University of San Francisco, Boston University, University of New York, Harvard University, University of Los Angeles, California, among others.

Mind you, she can make an entire book just to tell interesting educational journey!

Entrepreneurial spirit

Behind her outstanding educational background, Doctor Mila is also an entrepreneur, who aside from establishing Speechcom International, she capitalized her expertise (dozens of them) to help corporations, doing private lessons, and personalized mentoring classes.

“My active and lucrative entrepreneurial skills and management were honed by my mother who managed the family’s taxi business in Quezon City,” she shared.

Alongside her teaching career as a young wife, the Espina couple also operated a taxi business in Cebu for decades.

She also tried to venture in a pre-school business named Mary Carmel, but opted to give it up due to increasing responsibilities as a Dean at USJR.

Her fate in entrepreneurship flourished in the service where she is best at—in speech and communication, and in the realm of theater and arts.

“I expanded Speechcom and found this more lucrative and meaningful with less pressure of the rigid requirements of a school,” she said.

Speechcom had a wide range of projects, accredited by TESDA, Civil Service and Department of Tourism. Courses focused on English and the communication arts, ESL, review of IELTS and TOEFL, personality development and management, public speaking, theater craft and journalism.

After she retired from USJR in 2000, Mila continued to pursue her passion in both teaching and entrepreneurship. This time though, she is taking her time while enjoying her craft as a wind behind the wings of respected businessmen and politicians, and as a “star-maker.”

“I [always] inspire my students to create opportunities to make education and the performing arts an entrepreneurial platform,” thereby uplifting the quality of life.

She teaches CEOs, diplomats the art and grace as a dignified successful individual.

Tourism advocate

Although, Mila is not a Cebuana by birth, her heart has been captured by the province’s alluring warmth and beauty. No wonder she fell into the “spell” of a Cebuano heart-throb.

She champions the development of tourism in Cebu ever since she decided to make Cebu her second home.

Mila chaired and conducted a lot of Tourism Congress events. Had been with the CCCI Tourism Committee as chairperson for quite a while, and is involved with tourism developmental programs then and now.

She articulated the voice of Cebu’s tourism stakeholders while in the Chamber. Never hesitant to offer her expertise in any tourism endeavor.

In fact, this light-hearted woman of valor, led the committee in branding Cebu—in the creation of tagline “Cebu, Where the heart sings.”

Compassion

Looking at her accolades, achievements and relevance to her adoptive community—Cebu, Madam Mila as she is fondly called, has a heart bigger than the universe.

Her compassion shines wherever she is planted.

Among other things she does in private, she helped developed scholarships for the poor and deserving students through Amparito L. Lhuillier Educational Foundation (ALLEF). She has her hands full in her involvement with We Care Foundation and Punla (Cebu) Foundation, a scholarship foundation which believes that education is not a privilege of some but a basic right which the poor should not be deprived.

She put her “singing heart” in these and many more non-profit organizations, as nurturing her compassionate spirit nourishes her—physically, emotionally and spirituality.

As a child, Mila dreamt of becoming a nun.

She recalled, giving herself to serve others (especially those who cannot pay her in return) has always been her source of inspiration and strength.

But she realized later in life that she can still extend service and spread compassion outside of the convent. And she gracefully did it!

Perhaps, the secret to her youthful spirit and ageless aura is not after all her educational eloquence, her success as a businesswoman, but her overflowing compassion that she nurtures as a child up to her pinnacle in life.

Just like a song, Mila’s influence brings out the best to anyone who crosses her path.

Simply, an epitome of a true woman-teacher-entrepreneur. Versatile. Graceful. Witty. Inspiring and sometimes “Crazy!” (FREEMAN)